Three rounds of wine had been poured, and five flavors of dishes had been served.
That was the idea, at least. The so-called grand banquet the
In truth, nobody was paying attention to the banquet. Even the Second Prince had only raised his glass twice — the first time to express his hope for lasting peace between the Andinac Kingdom and the Trade Alliance, the second to toast the health and happiness of Envoy Krillos and his family. After that, nothing. He simply stared expectantly at Krillos, hoping the Marquis would stand and announce the good news that the Trade Alliance was willing to conclude a peace agreement.
Envoy Krillos, however, showed no sign of urgency whatsoever. He had been eating and drinking at a leisurely, perfectly composed pace, showing no disdain for the simplicity of the fare. He actually remarked that the large cuts of roasted meat before him had a charming local character, and even had enough enthusiasm to ask the Second Prince to summon the chef so the two could discuss the spices and seasonings used in the stew. As for his white-haired old servant, the man stood quietly behind him, cradling the small red wooden case in his hands, saying not a word.
Time crept by in agonizing anticipation. At last, when Krillos had eaten and drunk his fill, the assembled nobles finally ceased their idle chatter and whispered conversations, straightening up in their seats and focusing their attention on the main event. The Second Prince was no exception — though he kept his expression calm, his eyes betrayed an almost desperate longing, locked firmly on Krillos.
With a graceful motion, Krillos took the white napkin offered by a serving girl, dabbed delicately at his mouth, and wiped the grease from his hands. Then he rose with impeccable poise to thank the Second Prince for the bountiful and delicious feast, and expressed his hope that the Second Prince might one day visit
The Second Prince responded with equally polished pleasantries, saying that being stationed at the front had prevented him from offering proper accommodations, and that serving a distinguished guest like Marquis Krillos such crude fare was a terrible breach of etiquette. He begged Krillos's forgiveness for the poor reception, thanked him for the invitation to visit Morant City, and expressed his own hope that once the peace agreement was concluded, Krillos might bring his family to visit the imperial capital, where the Second Prince would fulfill his duties as a gracious host.
The two exchanged pleasantries back and forth at tedious length, a whole basket of empty words, and Lorist — listening from the side — nearly nodded off. Finally, the Second Prince could restrain himself no longer and got straight to the point: "Lord Krillos, has your side appointed you as envoy to deliver a response to our peace proposal? Are you willing to sign a peace agreement with us and bring about lasting peace between our two nations?"
"Ah..." Krillos started in surprise, then glanced at the white-haired old servant beside him. When the old man gave a slight nod, the elegant smile returned to his face. "Of course. I have come this time to answer the peace proposal on behalf of the Trade Alliance, and to invite His Majesty to visit Morant City in the name of the Alliance, so that we may deepen our mutual understanding and friendship..."
The Second Prince felt his spirits lift considerably. He waved his hand and said, "Lord Krillos, you already invited me to visit Morant City earlier, which I had to decline. The Empire has only just been reunified, and there is so much to rebuild. After years of warfare, the people's lives have been difficult. Once this peace agreement is concluded with your side, I must turn my energies to governing the nation and managing domestic administrative affairs, allowing the populace to recuperate. So, I can only thank your side for the invitation. When I have more leisure in the future, I will naturally visit your Morant City and behold the splendor of the renowned 'First City' of the Galentea Continent."
Marquis Krillos nodded noncommittally, offering no reaction to the Second Prince's rejection of the Trade Alliance's invitation. "Your Majesty, then let us first discuss the peace proposal your side has put forward."
The white-haired old servant stepped forward two paces, opened the lid of the red case he was holding, took out a roll of greyish-white beast-hide parchment, and handed it to Marquis Krillos.
"Your Majesty, the Trade Alliance has different views and perspectives regarding the peace proposal your side has presented. Therefore, we have also put forward our own suggestions, hoping to discuss them with you so that we may arrive at a true peace agreement. We wonder if your side would be willing to accept our terms." Marquis Krillos unrolled the beast-hide parchment and addressed the Second Prince.
"Of course, that is acceptable," the Second Prince nodded with a smile. Disagreement was normal; if the Trade Alliance had agreed to his demands immediately, it would have actually aroused the Second Prince's suspicions, making him wonder if there was some hidden plot. He leaned back comfortably against his chair, raised the golden goblet in his hand, and took a sip of fine wine. With a relaxed laugh, he said, "Please present your differing opinions. We are all ears."
"First and foremost, the Trade Alliance strongly condemns and protests the unprovoked invasion of our territories by the Kingdom of Andinak," Marquis Krillos declared, reading aloud from the beast-hide parchment in his hand. The Second Prince, still seated on his throne, maintained his broad smile. This was all just formal posturing, a matter of course. It would have been strange if the Trade Alliance hadn't protested. Even the nobles seated below let out disdainful snorts of laughter.
For the Trade Alliance to sign the peace agreement proposed by the Kingdom of Andinak would be an insult to every noble and citizen of the entire Alliance. We absolutely will not agree to this humiliating peace treaty!
Even the mightiest Krisen Empire of old could not force the weak Trade Alliance to bow its head. How much less can you, now that we have become the foremost nation on the Galentea Continent? We advise the rulers and His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Andinak: you are not the Krisen Empire. You have brazenly expanded your military, bullied and destroyed several kingdoms and principalities that once signed agreements publicly recognizing your sovereignty, and set the flames of war ablaze across the entire
Please remember, the Trade Alliance is not the Redlis Kingdom, nor is it the Madras Duchy, and certainly not an object for you to bully and oppress at will! We cherish peace, but we do not fear war. Regardless of whether you command an army of a million, the Trade Alliance possesses the resolve and conviction to fight to the bitter end and see it through to final victory.
An unjust war is doomed to fail. The God of War, Sigwa, will surely protect the brave nobles and kind-hearted people of the Trade Alliance. Whatever your reply may be, the Trade Alliance remains willing to grant peace one final chance. At this moment when the war horn is about to sound, we present the Trade Alliance's righteous demands to the Kingdom of Andinak. Only if the following points are met will the Trade Alliance be willing to bestow lasting peace upon the Kingdom of Andinak.
First, the Kingdom of Andinak must return all occupied territories—the Provinces of Boodaorg, Campuna, and Andwolfe, as well as the entire Northwestern Region.
Second, the Kingdom of Andinak must immediately withdraw all military forces deployed along the Trade Alliance's borders and reduce its standing armed forces. Simultaneously, it must notify the Trade Alliance of the scale, equipment, and defensive scope of all its regional garrisons.
Third, the Kingdom of Andinak must immediately release all captured Trade Alliance territorial nobles and their families. Furthermore, it must provide compensation and issue formal apologies to every Trade Alliance territorial noble who has suffered harm in the occupied regions.
Fourth, the Kingdom of Andinak must punish all its nobles who inflicted harm upon Trade Alliance noble territories during this war. In particular, the Northland Grand Duke
The Second Prince's face flushed crimson on the spot. The golden goblet in his hand had been crushed into a mangled lump, the fine wine within splashing across the lapel of his formal attire, soaking a large patch. Yet the Second Prince took no notice whatsoever, his bloodshot eyes fixed unblinkingly upon Marquis Krylos...
The nobles in attendance had begun to stir in unrest. What Marquis Krylos had read aloud was no peace proposal—it was the Trade Alliance's formal declaration of war upon the Kingdom of Andinak. Many nobles stared at Marquis Krylos with bewildered expressions. What was going on? After all, it was the Kingdom of Andinak's million-strong army standing at the Trade Alliance's borders, not the other way around—the Trade Alliance had not defeated Andinak and forced it to sign a surrender at swordpoint...
Marquis Krylos paid no heed to the shifting atmosphere in the great hall and continued reading aloud the Trade Alliance's peace demands in his own booming voice:
"Fifth, the Kingdom of Andinak must cede two southwestern provinces and the Magike Province to the Trade Alliance as reparations for initiating this unjust war and violating Trade Alliance territories.
Sixth, the Kingdom of Andinak's king, Augusello I, as the mastermind behind this unjust war, must personally travel to the Trade Alliance's Morant City to confess his guilt before the Trade Alliance Council and its people and offer a sincere apology. Simultaneously, he must sign a peace agreement recognized and approved by the Trade Alliance.
Seventh, the Kingdom of Andinak must open all trade routes to the Trade Alliance and assist Trade Alliance merchant associations in conducting all manner of commercial activities. Furthermore, regarding taxation..."
"Enough!" The Second Prince flew into a rage, kicking over the table laden with food and wine before him. Cups, plates, meat, and wine scattered in every direction.
"So that's it — you're declaring war on us, aren't you? Don't forget, our kingdom's million-strong army is stationed right at the Trade Alliance's border! One word from me, and a million soldiers will come crashing down on the Trade Alliance, tearing your so-called greatest nation on the continent into shreds!"
The Second Prince felt his face swelling with humiliation. He had poured so much effort into this, even laying out the Road of Peace as a perfect display of his sincerity to reach a peace agreement. Yet the Trade Alliance had completely disregarded all of it — were these even terms for negotiating peace? It was naked humiliation...
The great tent erupted into uproar. Numerous nobles were already shouting curses, while others stepped forward to urge the Second Prince to launch an immediate military attack on the Trade Alliance. Some demanded that Marquis Krislos be seized and hanged — at least as a small measure of interest to repay the Trade Alliance's insult to the kingdom's peace proposal...
Lorist said nothing. He simply wondered what gave the Trade Alliance the confidence to be so overbearing. It made no sense at all...
Marquis Krislos still wore that elegant smile on his face, seemingly unaffected by the furious shouts echoing through the tent. Once the noise had died down somewhat, he said mildly, "I believe His Majesty the King will not order his troops to attack. Moreover, His Majesty will not only accept the Trade Alliance's peace proposal but also accept our invitation to personally travel to Morant City to offer atonement and an apology."
"Bones and blood entering Morant City..."
"That won't be possible. Your Majesty, you won't be bringing a million soldiers — you will be traveling to Morant City as we require..." Marquis Krislos said with a helpless smile, regarding the Second Prince the way one might look at a naughty, mischief-making child who had just broken something and was about to be scolded by an adult.
"Heh... haha..." The Second Prince's laughter grew shrill and hoarse, much like the fury that filled him. All that painstaking planning, all the promises he had made to the kingdom's nobles — he had sworn that once the million-strong army arrived at the Trade Alliance's border, the Trade Alliance would certainly agree to his demands and sign a peace treaty, and he would become the great revitalizing emperor of the new Krisen Empire.
Every beautiful hope was shattered in that moment by the Trade Alliance's new peace terms. This was more than mere humiliation — it was like a massive slap across the Second Prince's face. He thought of the ten-li Road of Peace he had paved with white sand as a gesture of sincerity, trampled without the slightest regard by the Trade Alliance. This would surely be recorded in the kingdom's history and spread throughout the nobility and the common folk alike, becoming the greatest joke of his reign as king!
"Lord Krislos," the Second Prince's tone suddenly became very calm, yet it was brimming with deep malice. "You are an envoy, and though you come from an enemy nation, rest assured — I will not harm your life. However, the hundred guards and four Sword Saints who accompanied you will not be of any help to you, because I will mince them into meat paste and feed them to the dogs. Then I will have you stripped naked, coated in honey, covered in feathers, and tied to the back of a horse to send you back. I believe we will meet again soon, and I hope that by the time I lead my army to the walls of Morant City, you haven't yet plucked all the feathers off your body..."
"Heh heh, Your Majesty, you won't be able to carry out any of what you've described, nor will you harm my guards — because they will be escorting Your Majesty and your noble ministers to Morant City." Marquis Krislos spoke as he drew the ornately decorated but unsharpened longsword at his waist.
"Ha ha, Lord Krislos, surely you don't intend to threaten me with that ceremonial blade into marching with you to Morant City?" The Second Prince laughed from sheer fury. A mere Golden-rank swordsman drawing his blade in front of a Sword Saint — was he courting death? Though the Second Prince was only a first-rank Sword Saint, dispatching a Golden Swordsman was well within his capability.
"Ah, no, Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand. A humble Golden Swordsman like myself who merely cultivates combat force is certainly not in a position to coerce Your Majesty, nor do I have the ability to do so." Marquis Krislos handed the longsword to the grey-haired elderly servant at his side.
"Your Majesty, I believe I should introduce the master beside me to you all once more. He is not my personal attendant. He is Master Magrutt. The name may sound unfamiliar to all of you, and that is because everyone who knows him addresses him by his title — the Storm Sword Saint..."
Krislos turned to the Second Prince with a smile. "Your Majesty, a Sword Saint has come here in person to invite you to Morant City. Surely you won't refuse him that courtesy..."
...